Man dies in modified trike crash

A man died after what police describe as a "highly modified trike" crashed in Napier yesterday.

The crash happened about 4.30pm at the intersection of Ford and Carnegie roads in the Onekawa industrial district.

The road was closed for about two hours as heavy lifting machinery was used to lift the trike from the scene, while the injured man was taken by St John Ambulance to Hawke's Bay Hospital, where he died despite emergency medical attention.

Hawke's Bay Police road policing officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said that while many people would have been in the area, police were still wanting to speak with anyone who witnessed the crash, in which the man fell from the machine as it apparently went out of control and clipped a kerb.

"At this stage it is too early to comment on the cause of the crash," he said, "but it appears that no other vehicles were involved."

Senior Constable Ian Cheyne, who was at the scene, said he wanted to ascertain if anyone saw the machine and rider in the streets before the crash and at the time it happened.

The weather was fine and the road dry. Investigations will include the condition of the machine and its modifications.

A number plate found at the scene indicated the machine was registered and warranted but that was still to be investigated by police.

"We will be investigating whether it was roadworthy," said Mr Brown, but speed, alcohol and driving behaviour will also be focuses of the inquiry into how the crash happened at such a wide-open intersection.

The man's identity was known to police who were last night trying to contact next of kin before releasing details, expected to be today.

It was the first fatality on Hawke's Bay roads since a man died after the vehicle he was driving left Te Aute Rd south of Hastings and crashed into a stream early on May 19.

It was the ninth fatality this year in the Eastern Police District, which includes Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and East Cape.

It took the national toll for the year to a provisional 142, about 30 more than at the same stage of 2013 expected to be part of the highest half-year toll since 2010, when more than 190 had died by the end of June.

Up to yesterday morning, 22 of the road deaths throughout the country this year had been on motorcycles - 21 riders and one pillion passenger.

Meanwhile, a 13-year-old Napier Boys' High School pupil was understood last night to be still in a critical condition in hospital after being injured when hit by a car.

He was riding his scooter on Tennyson St in Napier when the collision took place early on Wednesday night.